Campaigners aim to eliminate cycling deaths in Oxfordshire
Jamie Clarke, Vision Zero Campaign Manager, explains the Vision Zero campaign to end cycling deaths on the roads.
More than 100 people from across Oxfordshire came together on Tuesday night to launch a campaign to end deaths on our roads.
After the tragic death of four young women cycling in Oxford For the past two years, Cyclox, Oxford’s Cycle Campaign group, organized the event to launch an ambitious plan to end road deaths.
Attendees heard an emotional statement from James Felce, husband of Dr. Ling Felce, who was tragically killed by a truck driver at The Plain roundabout in March 2022.
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James described the devastation Ling’s unnecessary death had caused him and their two children, and how he is determined to “stop more families from being torn apart” by supporting efforts to improve cycling safety in Oxford.
“I urge you to take swift and decisive action to ensure a future without any more traffic deaths. I know it is possible and I want to use the tragic experience of Ling’s death to help all of you make that future a reality.”
Helsinki’s cycling coordinator Oskari Kaupinmäki was inspired by how the city can eliminate road traffic deaths. Oskari described how the capital of Finland, a city four times the size of Oxford, has reduced road traffic deaths to zero in recent years.
Key to this change has been a shift in the mindset of politicians, planners and the public to focus on creating a safe and connected city. Pedestrians, cyclists and public transport are prioritized in traffic planning, and the journeys of the necessary private car journeys are made easier. A significant part of the program was the reduction of speed limits to 30 kilometers per minute (20 mph) throughout the city.
Oskari described how Helsinki invests in high-quality bicycle infrastructure, bicycle parking and bicycle rental systems, all aimed at public transport. Even in a city that is often covered in snow for four months of the year, for every euro invested, the return for the city was 7.8 euros.
When the listener said that Oxford cannot be compared to other European cities because of its narrow medieval streets, Oskari replied that Helsinki also had space problems and he strongly said “We don’t compromise, we make choices”. A very clear message to our politicians.
Closer to home, we heard about Action Vision Zero, the UK campaign to end road hazards and traffic nuisance.
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Amy Aeron-Thomas guided the audience through how UK cities, including London, are also working to eliminate road deaths.
He highlighted the importance of 20km/h city streets and their enforcement, as well as the world’s leading systems for regulating high-sided vehicles – those most often involved in road deaths for pedestrians and cyclists. He also highlighted how initiatives such as school streets and low-traffic neighborhoods are successfully reducing road hazards and how grants were awarded to support communities that want to change the way they travel.
Before breaking into planning groups, attendees heard from Dan Levy, Oxfordshire’s Active Travel Champion Province The Council reiterated its support for Vision Zero by 2050 and emphasized the need for public support to enable the Council to achieve the goal.
Energetic and meaningful planning sessions followed as participants from all walks of life discussed how lessons from Helsinki and London could be applied to Oxford and Oxfordshire.
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It was unanimously agreed that the county government’s target date of 2050 for achieving Vision Zero was far too far. The topics of the discussion ranged from supporting the improvement of public transport to improving the safety of road intersections, from expanding 20 km/h roads to supporting the reduction of traffic.
Cyclox will use the ideas and plans created to develop a Vision Zero strategy for Oxford – if you want to be involved in implementing it, contact [email protected].
This story was written by Andy Francehe joined the team over 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Contact him by email: [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF